Shell innovations key to shared business growth with customers

MANILA, Philippines - Leading petroleum company Pilipinas Shell stressed its commitment to grow together with its customers and business partners by continuing to share its technology innovations with them during a recent transport forum.

“It’s our responsibility to ensure that our customers and our business partners grow with Shell,” said Dennis Javier, Pilipinas Shell country business manager for lubricants, at the Energy Innovations for Transport Operations forum held recently at the Mandarin Oriental in Makati City. “We will develop with you, we will work with you, and we will collaborate with you,” he addressed the business partners and dealers who were the primary participants of the meet.

The forum, the first conducted by Shell focusing on the transport industry, highlighted the role of Shell’s research and development (R&D) team in developing fuel, lubricant and bitumen innovations to meet customers’ needs for operational efficiency, lower fuel costs, as well as today’s demands for lower carbon footprint in increasing observance of eco-friendly and sustainable measures.

Delhi-based Girish Chawla, product application specialist for Asia Pacific at Shell Global Solutions, covered the topic by speaking about heavy duty diesel engine oil (HDDEO) technology trends and influences to the market for such engines.

The diesel engine has evolved over the years, such that it now takes the equivalent of 60 trucks built with engine technology in the year 2006 to emit pollutants equivalent to only a single truck built in 1988, according to Chawla.

“Engines are actually going to be air-cleaning machines,” he said, referring to upcoming diesel engines to be built following Euro V and VI emission standards.

Shell has taken the challenge of creating a lubricant specific to engines equipped with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) technology for lowering emissions. Chawla said Shell Rimula R4X is categorized as an API (American Petroleum Institute) CI-4, or oil formulated to sustain the durability of engines with EGR. This means it is suitable for all pre-US 2007 engines, most Euro IV and V engines and earlier engine types. The oil makes older engines more refreshed in terms of oxidation, according to Chawla. He added that the high-performance HDDEO will reduce maintenance costs in the long run by extending oil service intervals.

Another forum resource was Robert Boquiren, downstream security consultant of corporate security for Shell companies in the Philippines. Boquiren spoke on security management guidelines for the public transport industry, to let bus operators know that Shell can work with them on how they can secure and protect transport terminals and equipment against fire and bombing. Boquiren cited 36 cases of bus burning incidents from 2000 to 2013 and 14 bombing incidents during the same period due to the absence or lack of security measures and awareness.

Javier said Shell does not only help business partners save money by improving the way they safely operate engines but also the way they secure their facilities.

The forum’s plenary session was followed by a question-and-answer segment and breakout sessions, where customers and partners picked up a lot of new ideas to grow their business.

In the breakout session on lubricants, Chawla presented the advantages and benefits of the Shell Rimula R4X diesel engine oil, the Shell Spirax lubricants and Shell Gadus greases. He explained that in modern engines with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), exhaust gases that return to the combustion chamber to reduce nitrogen oxide emission bring along soot and other particles that get deposited in the cylinder and engine parts. Shell Rimula R4X has better dispersant additive that continuously spreads the soot to prevent it from building up in one area. Shell Rimula R4X also neutralizes acids for corrosion protection and keeps moving metal engine surfaces apart for longer engine life.

Chawla said field tests of the Shell Rimula R4X showed up to 30 percent improvement in wear control for piston rings and cylinder liners. Tests also showed up to 50 percent better cleanliness control and up to 50 percent better acid corrosion protection compared to the previous Shell Rimula R3X.

In the breakout session on commercial fuels and specialties, Gerry Manares, Shell’s fuels technical adviser for Visayas and Mindanao, presented the advantages and benefits of Shell FuelSave Diesel while Janet Marcellana, Application Adviser (Asia), showcased Flintkote Rustguard. FuelSave is specially formulated to help transport companies save fuel by up to three percent over the lifetime of the vehicle by improving engine performance. It also lowers carbon dioxide emissions and smoke.

Samples of Shell FuelSave and ordinary diesel in separate transparent containers were demonstrated to the audience, which they observed to be cleaner and with less foam, and which also saves on refueling time. 

A video showing the advantages of the Rustguard automotive underbody protection was shown to the breakout session audience. The Rustguard is easy to apply, does not crack or peel under extreme vibration or impact from flying debris, and provides an appreciable degree of sound deadening to a car or bus.

The forum culminated with Javier reiterating Shell’s partnership with its customers and business stakeholders. “If you will partner with Shell or you’re already a partner of Shell, you made the right choice because for sure Shell will be with you as you grow,” he added.

Shell is a global leader in power, energy, and gas technology and is working to meet increasing energy demand and supply challenges by delivering smarter products and cleaner energy, smarter infrastructure, smarter use, and by developing new energy sources while addressing the impact on the environment, through cleaner burning natural gas and advanced fuels and lubricants technology.

In the Philippines, Shell represents various companies operating in oil and gas exploration, extraction, refining and delivery of smarter products for clean and fuel-efficient transport in the country. Being at the forefront of energy and fuel efficiency, Shell advocates for the use of energy more efficiently as the simplest and most cost-effective way to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change through driver education, fuel efficient driving behavior, and smarter mobility collaboration and strategic partnerships to fuel the country’s progress.